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Yacouba Sawadogo is an exceptional man – he single-handedly
managed to solve a crisis that many scientists and development
organizations could not. The simple old farmer’s re-forestation and soil
conservation techniques are so effective they’ve helped turn the tide
in the fight against the desertification of the harsh lands in northern
Burkina Faso.

Over-farming, over-grazing and over population
have, over the years, resulted in heavy soil erosion and drying in this
landlocked West African nation. Although national and international
researchers tried to fix the grave situation, it really didn’t really
make much of a difference. Until Yacouba decided to take matters into
his own hands in 1980.

Yacouba’s methods were so odd that his
fellow farmers ridiculed him. But when his techniques successfully
regenerated the forest, they were forced to sit up and take notice.
Yacouba revived an ancient African farming practice called ‘zai’, which
led to forest growth and increased soil quality.